travel hair: french fishtail seashell braid

Like most things in my life, I found this French Fishtail Seashell Braid by Kouture Kiss on Pinterest. I'm trying to steer clear of boring ponytails when we travel (so far I've failed) and this style is a perfect solution. Something about cute braids just says summer. 

travel hair: inverted side ponytail

Remember the days of the Topsy Tail? I do because I owned one of these spectacular tools in middle school. Apparently the topsy tail is back in style and you can use just your fingers to achieve this look! You can find the instructions here.

Since we have a long day of travel tomorrow, I'll be rocking a side topsy tail - or inverted side ponytail (sounds classy).

travel hair: straw hat

I'm picking up a similar hat for our trip to Morocco because I've heard that the summer sun is brutal and there's nothing worse than a burnt scalp. Plus, after our camping experience last weekend, I think a hat will protect my scalp from insect bites too (we were swarmed). I found this hat on the ASOS website and here's a cheaper, more colorful version from ALDO.

travel hair: using a summer scarf

If you don't plan on rushing out to buy one of these cute but expensive head scarves from ASOS, Refinery29 suggests using a summer scarf you already own. I don't know about you, but I own way too many scarves and sadly, the majority of them sit on the shelves of my closet. If you're traveling somewhere warm this summer --even if it's a trip to your local beach -- a summer scarf may be the solution to keep you cool. And they're nice if you don't feel like washing and fixing your hair!

travel hair: flat iron curls

This hairdo takes a little more time than the bun and ponytail styles I've been featuring lately, but you still only need one tool and since I never bring a curling iron anywhere, I'm determined to master the technique. 

travel hair: head scarf

We might have our passports again in a few weeks (fingers crossed) so I have Morocco on my mind. If all goes as planned, we will be traveling there next month. Since it's extremely hot in Marrakech I have also been thinking about my wardrobe and what I'd bring. I've heard that wearing linen pants and lightweight shirts is a good idea, but what about hair?


Whenever it's hot and I'm sweating, I end up throwing my hair up in a boring ponytail. I found this fun Susan Caplan Vintage YSL Cotton Scarf on the ASOS website and it would make any ponytail look more interesting. Plus, the scarf keeps bangs and flyways off of faces.


Now to justify the steep price tag...

travel hair: bun with wrapped ponytail

When I'm looking for new hairstyles to try, I have to remember to be realistic. Some of my girlfriends are wonderful at fixing their own hair, and even my little sister did her own updo for prom this year. I, on the other hand, can't even french braid. Pinterest has been a god-send for me in this department because I'm able to research and save nice hairstyles that I can even manage (on a good day).


I like this bun from The Beauty Department because it's appropriate for a nice dinner abroad, and for walking the dog on mornings I roll out of bed. I'm not a fan of buns and ponytails placed on the tip-top section of my head, however. I'd opt for a lower bun with maybe a part and side-swept bangs so it doesn't look so slicked back.


Thanks, Pinterest!

travel hair: knotted ponytail

I love that this specific ponytail style looks just as elegant as most wedding updos, and is super simple to execute. Kate from The Small Things Blog has a step-by-step hair tutorial video that's easy to follow, informative, and fun (maybe I should fix my hair more often?) 

I have a wedding in July and I plan on recreating this look with lots of hairspray and my side bangs peeking out. Now to find a dress.

Since wedding season is upon us, what hairstyles have you tried recently?

travel hair: messy fishtail braid

On more than one occasion, B and I have made the mistake of booking a terrible airport hotel. When this inevitably happens every couple of months, I refuse to set foot in the shower. And for good reason. It's bad enough when you're forced to lay in a lumpy bed, focused on the peeling ceiling and funky smells, all while attempting to tune out the sound of traffic and drunken screaming. So, spending twenty minutes of my life in a moldy, cracked, and downright dirty shower seems completely unnecessary. 


I found a great fishtail side braid video tutorial on the Bridal Musings website. I like this look because it's fast, simple, and it even works with my layered hair. And it's perfect for unwashed locks.

If your roots get oily like mine, I suggest using a quick spray of dry shampoo before starting the braid.

travel hair: easy waves

I don't like bringing a lot of hair tools on vacation because they're heavy, bulky, and take up valuable space. We try to find hotels and bed and breakfasts that include a hair dryer in each room, and occasionally I'll bring my small flat iron. Because of this, I'm always searching for easy, fast ways to fix my hair - emphasis on easy because my friends know I'm terrible at doing anything with it. 


I found this photo on Pinterest (not linked to a website and without a tutorial) and thought it looked simple enough.

From the photo, you can see that she made two braided pigtails, twisted them tightly, and ran a flat iron down each one. I used my flat iron, let the twisted braids cool, and applied hair spray before I released the hair. Sadly, even though I followed the photo's steps and was extra careful, my work did not result in beach waves. I did, however, get a fun texture that I liked.


I have fine hair - but a lot of it - and it doesn't hold curl very well, so maybe it will work for everyone else!